In an investment of more than £1million, developers have revealed early stage plans to transform land next to Biscovey Academy School in Par into what could be one of the biggest leisure led developments ever seen in the county and would also create up to 40 full-time jobs.

The plans include development of a leisure activity centre, improved access and parking for the infant and junior school and a small housing scheme. The proposed leisure facility would provide outdoor ski, snowboard and family activities around an alpine-style visitor centre.

Upon announcement of the plans, a number of local residents raised concerns that the housing scheme would be overdeveloped and unaffordable for local people.

However a director at Situ8 has confirmed that the development would contain five or six houses.

The proposals also include plans for:

140m dry ski slope for all abilities

150m - 160m toboggan ringo run

Ski training academy

Ski jump with big air bag

Drag lift and travelator

Wedding and events venue

Bar and restaurant in Alps/après style

Children's activity area

Climbing wall

Woodland walk and conservation area

Land owner, Dan Olford, 40, said the land has been in the family for more than 100 years and currently doesn't make any money.

The potential view from the ski slope in Par (Image: Tom Last)

He said: "The main slope would be 140m it would be geared up for all abilities and on the right hand side there would be a run for extreme riders – with a pipe and rails.

"There will also be a tube ringo style run and that will be 150m to 160m - it will be like a toboggan/bobsleigh type run and it will be really cool and great for kids.

"There will also be a nursery area in front of the alpine building. We hope that there can be a ski academy so that when the kids learn to ski, as they get older, they can get into learning tricks.

"For learning things like back-flips we are going to have trampolines that they can learn to do the backflip and then the next stage would be to do the back-flip with a foam board attached to their feet.

"We are also going to have a big air bag which skiers could jump of onto from the dry slope. It would be like a bouncy castle so that if you hurt yourself it’s really forgiving.

This is where the dry slope would be located (Image: Tom Last)

"There will be a drag lift for the dry slope and a travellator. We will have ringo parties and academy based stuff for people who want to progress.

"We will have a bar and restaurant in Alps/après style. The children’s activities will be nearby so that parents can watch their kids – because of the bar, restaurant and activities we hope it can become a place families come even if they aren’t interested in the slopes."

Dan continued: "We are lucky because there aren’t many places you can see the sun set on the south coast. We will hold functions and events like a winter market and seasonal events that would suit the theme.

"We will have a climbing wall and tree conservation area for woodland walks - there's already a wetland which attracts kingfishers, geese and ducks, which we hope to expand.

"We hope to have a visitors centre which can also be used for weddings."

Dan said he believed local people could be concerned over the project because there is already a Wainhomes development planned for nearby.

"Living in Cornwall we are a county full of surfers and I think that skiing would fit in really well.

"When I grew up I was always using the coliseum for different activities but we don’t have anywhere like that now. We like to think that we are giving something back.

"We are trying to say to everyone if you have questions or concerns come to the consultation on Monday [February 26] - nothing is set in stone yet.

"My family have been in farming for years and we have to sell some land to developers to fund this project. What we make from selling the plots will go back into Cornwall.

"We won’t be building the houses ourselves but we are hoping that a Cornish developer might be interested we need to concentrate on the snow part.

"But we are also hoping that the school will take some land to sort out their parking problems – especially because there is a massive Wainhomes housing scheme to be built in the area.

The view from what could be Cornwall's first ever ski resort (Image: Tom Last)

"I think the Wainhomes development is terrible and I think that is why some people are nervous about our plans but we want to do something different than just building houses and something positive.

"The land doesn’t make us any money but we are passionate. It is a business risk - we need over a million for this project but it will be phased. In the future we are looking to go down the education route.

"You can do a degree in surfing so we are looking into degrees in winter sports as well but that’s further in the future, the initial business plan has to work first."

Dan added: "We think we are looking at 35-40 full time jobs and we would employ local people. I used to work at the Eden Project and it was full of great local people. We will be looking for the right people.

"We also hope to give kids the chance to learn new sports and then put them through customers service training.

The project hopes to provide parking to ease traffic congestion at a nearby school (Image: Tom Last)

"I lived in Austria for a couple of years working so that's where the passion for this project comes from. I think it is great for youngsters to get involved in something like this.

"After the consultation we will analyse the feedback and put in a planning application, we are also doing some environmental surveys at the moment.

"If everything goes well and we get planning permission we would love to start building in the autumn, if we do we could be ready by early summer 2019.

"I am going to be the project leader and we hope to use local plumbers and builders. We have lived in the area for years so we know a lot of builders and plumbers. We really want people to come and find out more about what we want to do."

In 2008, permission for a 12-acre site including dry ski slope, half pipe and toboggan run was granted for a resort at Trevarthian Farm at Kestle Mill, near Newquay.

The plans were initially rejected but the applicants, Winterpark Cornwall, took the decision to appeal and the Government's Planning Inspectorate granted conditional approval.

Reporter, Shannon Hards, getting her skis on (Image: Tom Last)

The council’s planning committee had gone against planning officers’ recommendations to approve the facility.

In 2014, plans for a dry ski slope on the outskirts of Truro were also approved by Cornwall Council. The slope was set for construction at Killiow Estate.

Both projects in Newquay and Truro have yet to materialise.

Locals are invited to attend a public consultation, which is intended to reveal how many jobs the scheme could create, on Monday (February 26). The drop-in session will be held between 5pm and 8pm at Biscovey Academy in Par.

A spokesman for Situ8 said: "The team will be available at the event to discuss the scheme, answer any queries and listen to your valuable comments. We will be pleased to meet you and with your help take the scheme forward."

MP for St Austell and Newquay Steve Double said: "This is an interesting proposition and could bring jobs and economic growth to the Par area but clearly it has to be balanced against the impact on the local community.

"It is important local people have their say and I encourage anyone who is interested to go along and have your say at the public consultation.

Cornwall's next closest dry ski slope is in Plymouth

"A member of my team will be there on my behalf as I am required to be in Parliament on that day."

Jordan Rowse, Cornwall Councillor for Par and St Blazey Gate, said: "This proposal is both interesting and exciting, and I am most certainly supportive of it in principle. A good news story for a change.

"I never thought in a million years Par could be home to Cornwall’s first ski resort, but how fantastic would this be for our local area.

"I have been made aware of concerns over the ‘small housing scheme’ that is proposed along with this project, but I am led to believe it is going to be a maximum of six properties with the money from these going straight back in to help fund the ski resort. Call it a necessary evil if you will.

"This local project is being put forward by a local resident. This farm has been in their family for over a 100 years and the fields are not currently farmed. I admire such an innovative approach to finding an alternative use for these fields, rather than just filling them up with houses.

"As the youngest councillor in Cornwall, I believe in having a bright vision for our county and, after all, isn’t innovation what we’re all about down here? See what the Eden Project did for our county.

The ski resort plans hope to 'put Par on the map'

"I am a firm believer that we should make use of our unique geography, whether that’s surfing or snowboarding.

"It is unlikely that this project will happen anywhere else in Cornwall, and I believe this is a perfectly good location for such a project.

"If this is to move forward, then I will be sure to work with both the local community and the applicant to ensure what we get is the best for Par, and for Cornwall.

"Let’s put Par on the map.”

Writing on the Cornwall Live Facebook page, Chris Fuller said: "With Cornwall being the X-Sports capital of the UK, this will bring money from the north coast to here in tourist season as the vast majority of surfers and skateboarders from up-country also snowboard.

"There is the potential to hold national (and possibly international) competitions at the site (much like Boardmasters).

"Numerous jobs will be created. Access for Biscovey Academy is set to be improved as part of the plan (so hopefully everyone will stop parking down my road every weekday at 2.45pm to 3.15pm).

"I will get local passes (if they do them) as I am in St Blazey. The lodge itself looks like it will have nice facilities within walking distance from me (which is fantastic as I don't drive). All in all a top idea. I hope it goes ahead."

Jane Rowe added: "Par is already on the map. They have already started to widen the accessibility just up from Par Moor Road, everyone we’ve spoken to does not want this, also the fields were used for grazing cattle and the grass bailed for winter feed, then last year they grew maize."

Emma Louise posted: "Fantastic for locals and visitors we need some decent modern activities. Bringing in money jobs and more reasons to visit our beautiful county. Make it happen."